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The council is currently holding a statutory consultation on proposals to close the cut-through that runs across the middle of Tooting Common.
If the proposal is approved, Dr Johnson Avenue’s tarmac could be removed and be replaced with grass and trees.
But leading councillors have re-stated the critical message that a six month trial period would be needed before any change was made permanent.
This would allow highway engineers to gauge the impact of the closure on traffic conditions in the area.
The council’s environment and transport spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “We thought the idea of removing traffic from the middle of the common was worth closer examination because of the potential benefits and because 58 per cent of people who took part in last summer’s informal consultation supported the change.
“It would create a larger open space that was no longer divided in two by tarmac and provide a much safer route for pedestrians, especially young families in the area, and cyclists too.
“Removing the traffic would also result in a quieter and more tranquil open space, as well as providing new wildlife habitats.
“But I am also fully aware that a change like this could easily have knock-on effects on the wider area and cause traffic problems further afield and that is what we want to avoid.
“What we are saying therefore is that if the public supports the change, we would proceed only on a trial basis for six months. This would give us enough time to assess the closure’s impact on traffic conditions in the area and if these were found to be unreasonable, we could revert back to where we are now.
“This is certainly not a done deal. It is up to local people to help determine the outcome of this consultation and why it is really important they take part and have their say.”
Dr Johnson Avenue runs for a third of a mile between Tooting Bec Road and Hillbury Road. It separates Tooting Graveney Common from Tooting Bec Common – effectively splitting what’s more widely known as Tooting Common into two separate open spaces.
In order to prevent drivers from using Elmbourne Road as an alternative route, the proposals include a ban on vehicles turning right from Tooting Bec Road, ensuring northbound traffic could not access it, while further measures could be put in place to deter southbound traffic from making the corresponding left turn.
To find out more about the proposal and to take part in the consultation people can visit http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/DrJ
